RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Convincing Evidence of Carnivorous Diet in Alvarezsaurian Dinosaur JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2024.12.06.627300 DO 10.1101/2024.12.06.627300 A1 Wang, Shuo A1 Ding, Nuo A1 Ma, Waisum A1 Yu, Wenmiao A1 Zheng, Tingting A1 Choiniere, Jonah A1 Xu, Xing YR 2024 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2024/12/10/2024.12.06.627300.abstract AB A dietary shift from carnivory to insectivore has been proposed to explain the dramatic morphological evolution of alvarezsaurians, particularly the adaptation related to the manual digital reduction and body size miniaturization. However, based solely on morphological shifts, this hypothesis lacked direct dietary evidence to support either carnivory or insectivore. Here, we present the first convincing dietary evidence for alvarezsaurians, derived from the intestinal contents of the Early Cretaceous Bannykus wulatensis. Our analysis revealed significantly higher levels of calcium and phosphorus in the intestinal contents compared to the surrounding sandstone. Scanning electron microscopy identified hard tissue debris and possible soft tissues surrounding by phosphatized bacteria and tightly packed hollow microspheres, suggesting that the intestinal contents were strongly pseudomorphed by phosphatized microbes during fossilization. Raman spectroscopy showed characteristic peaks indicative of bone-derived material, consistent with the hard tissue debris appeared in the intestinal contents. Our results suggest that Bannykus had a carnivorous diet with strong chemical digestion, which likely compensated for its delicate cranial structures and small teeth. These results imply that if a dietary shift to insectivore occurred, it likely took place later in alvarezsaurian evolution, probably coinciding with a reduction in body size.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.